TV3’s Alan Hughes and husband Karl Broderick have said they’re confident if gay marriage were put to a vote in Ireland, it would pass.

The two, who have been together nearly 20 years, were the highest profile couple to enter a civil partnership when they were legalised here in 2011.

The possibility of gay marriage being put to a referendum became a possibility following the Constitutional Convention’s historic vote last month.

Hughes, who has presented Ireland AM for over a decade, said he is confident the issue would pass if put to a vote.

“I’m very confident it would pass here” said Hughes.

“We’re not trying to become poster boys for gay marriage, what we want to do is normalise it. We’ve been together 18 years.”

However he admitted it was upsetting to see far-right protesters riot in France after same-sex marriage was legalised there last month.

“Obviously that’s upsetting to see” he said. “I just don’t understand people who get up in the morning and say ‘let’s stop the gays getting married’ – Do they not have anything better to do?”

Hughes added that even if gay marriage should fail to pass, it won’t affect his relationship.

“On the day of our civil partnership ceremony we got married and committed to spending our lives together and we’re not going to be affected by what other people think is right, we just don’t have that mentality”.